“No. What good news is that?” Jack asked, noticing the smirk on Scott’s face.
“We’re engaged. Do me a favor and don’t mention it to anyone yet, though. Jessie doesn’t want to take any attention off Zoey today. We’re going to announce it officially next week.”
Jack felt his stomach knot. Jessie was engaged? What the hell? Why hadn’t she told him?
He stared at Scott, surprised, and wondered why he had chosen to share this information with him. It wasn’t as if they were friends.
“Oh yeah? Well, congratulations. She’s an amazing girl.”
“Yeah, I know that, Jack. Just wanted to make sure you knew that she’s off the market. Officially.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Jack went on the defensive.
Scott shrugged. “Get the feeling that you care a little too much about my fiancée sometimes, that’s all.”
“Of course I care. We’re friends. We work together.” Jack felt irritation prickle through him. This guy was seriously starting to get on his fucking nerves.
“I think you and I both know it’s more than that, don’t we, Jack?” Scott baited him.
“So what if it is?” Jack challenged him, taking a step toward the little fucker. “Think you could keep her for a second if I threw my hat in the ring?”
“We both know you don’t have a chance with someone like Jessie. She might think it’s fun to play private detective with you right now, but someday she’ll give that up when she’s raising my kids. It’s not like she’ll need to work. I make plenty to take care of her. The way she’s used to being taken care of. Not sure you could compete with that, Jack. Ask her to show you the ring. Probably cost more than you make in a year.”
Jack smirked, but Scott had hit a nerve. It was true that Jessie had been raised in a wealthy family. Jack would never have the kind of money she had grown up with.
“Jessie’s good at what she does. She loves working cases. If she decides to stop working, that’ll be her choice, dude, not yours,” Jack said, glaring at him.
“Why would she want to work when she can have an easy life? She’s always wanted to be a stay-at-home mom after she has kids someday. Bet you didn’t even know that about her.”
“Yeah? Well, you just make sure that you keep her happy. If she comes to me crying again because you’ve said some fucked up shit that hurt her feelings, pretty sure I’m not going to be able to let it go next time. If it happens again, you’ll answer to me. You feeling me?”
“Don’t threaten me, Jack,” Scott replied, though fear flashed in the pussy’s eyes. “You don’t need to worry about Jessie anymore. I’ll be taking care of her from now on, so you can just go back to rolling in the gutter.”
If they had been anywhere else, Jack would have knocked him out. But there was no way he was going to cause a scene at Chris and Zoey’s wedding. He held in the rage that was begging to spill over and walked away.
NOW THAT KENNEDY WAS ON her way home with Sarah and Beth, Jack found himself looking around. Chris had made him promise not to hook up with any of Zoey’s hot cousins, but he had not put any restrictions on the sexy redhead who was working as a server for the caterer. They’d been eye fucking each other most of the night.
Jack was still wound up. The anger from his encounter with Scott had him knotted up tight.
Finding out that Jessie was actually going to marry that asshole? Fuck, he needed a distraction. Something to take his mind off it. Somewhere to re-direct this pent-up frustration and anger. He needed a release so badly right now. A willing body would be the perfect outlet.
As luck would have it, the redhead was waiting for him outside the men’s room.
“Hey,” she greeted him.
“Hey.” Jack’s eyes zeroed in on her legs, long and sexy, displayed nicely in the short skirt of her server’s uniform.
“Having a good time?” She eyed him seductively, licking her lips as her gaze wandered over his body and then settled back on his piercing blue eyes.
“Sure. Could be having a better time, though. Think you could take a break?”
“Maybe,” she teased, “what’d you have in mind?”
Jack clasped his hand around her wrist and dragged her into the men’s room. She giggled as he guided her into a stall, closing and locking the door behind them.
He pushed her against the door of the stall and began unbuttoning the top of her server uniform. She reached for the button of his pants, then the zipper, reaching a hand inside to stroke his cock, which was semi-hard.
He opened her shirt and lifted her bra up, exposing her fake tits, which were pretty spectacular.
She let out a moan as he pushed her skirt up over her hips and lifted one of her long legs, wrapping it around his waist.
He reached into his pocket for a condom, ripping the package open and rolling it on quickly.
“Wow, your cock is huge,” the girl said.
Jack hesitated.
What the fuck was he doing?
He sighed.
Fuck.
“You know what? I can’t do this,” Jack said, pushing her hand away from his cock. “I’m sorry, you’re smoking hot, but I’m fooling around with you to try to stop thinking about someone else. It doesn’t feel right.”
She smiled. “That’s okay. I don’t mind.”
“Yeah, well, you should, I think. We both should.”
He heard the door open as he helped her pull her skirt back down as she buttoned her top. He could hear Nick and Sean talking.
Jack opened the stall door as he zipped up and buttoned his pants, tucking his shirt back in the waist band as he took a step out of the stall.
Nick and Sean smirked and laughed as they watched him come out of the stall with the hot redhead.
Sean thumped Jack on the back as the girl smiled at them.
“Not what it looks like, dude,” Jack said.
“Yeah, right,” Nick laughed.
Of course they didn’t believe him.
As they all streamed out of the bathroom laughing, Jack glanced up to find Jessie looking at them. He saw Jessie’s eyes drop to his hand, which was clasped around the girl’s wrist, and then glance back up at him, her eyes sad, but not surprised in the least. She turned her head and looked away, smiling with relief as she saw Scott walking toward her.
Jack swallowed the regret and ignored the knot in his stomach.
This was for the best. She should see him like this.
He had seen the disgust on her face. That was good.
She should remember what he was like so she never made the mistake again of thinking there could ever be anything but friendship between them.
Chapter Twenty-Four
JESSIE SHOOK THE BOTTLE OF Hawaiian Tropics and then sprayed it evenly over her body. She could feel Jack’s eyes on her from his lounge chair.
“Come here, baby girl,” Jessie said to Kennedy. “Time to reapply sunscreen.”
They were spending the day at the waterpark. Kennedy was having so much fun.
She reached for the pink bottle of SPF 50 Water Babies sunscreen and carefully and thoroughly applied it to Kennedy, making sure not to miss any spots.
Jack watched Jessie lovingly tend to his daughter and he felt his stomach clench. She would make such a good mom someday. Kennedy should have a mother like Jessie to take care of her all of the time. Instead the poor little thing was stuck with him.
He did the best he could, but he just didn’t have the maternal instincts like Jessie did. She always thought of everything. He was a like a train wreck. Kind of learning as he went, but fucking shit up most of the time.
His eyes slid over Jessie’s tempting little body. She wore a bikini. Not the most revealing bikini he’d ever seen her in. Little boy shorts and a halter top. A sort of family-appropriate bikini. Still, she was sexy as fuck in it. Her perfect, smooth skin was tanned. Tempting ass cheeks just barely peeking out from under those shorts. Flat stomach, lightly toned arms, and o
f course, those incredible breasts.
And he had touched and licked just about every inch of her. He couldn’t forget how she felt in his arms. How he had made her tremble, and pant, and moan, and come all over his face and his cock.
He couldn’t help remembering how good that sweet little pussy had tasted, how hard she had made his dick. How fucking perfect her pussy had felt, soaking his cock in her arousal as she grinded her hips and fucked the hell out of him.
The lifeguard blew the whistle, letting the kids know that break time was over and they could get back in the water. Jack lifted Kennedy into his arms.
“I’ll take her around the lazy river for a while. You want to lie out and relax or come with?” Jack asked, offering Jessie a break.
He didn’t want her to feel like she had to take care of Kennedy every minute. After all, the kid was his responsibility, not hers.
“I’ll come with you.” Jessie adjusted her ponytail and they got back in the pool.
She noticed all of the young girls as well as the moms gaping at him as Jack passed by. He was so hot, his muscles rippling and glistening wet in the sun. He was like a fucking god. His abs looked like they were photo shopped for fuck’s sake.
More than one cute girl had approached him today to ask about one of the tattoos that decorated his powerful arms, chest and back. Any excuse to strike up a conversation with him.
Not that he would tell them. He had never even told Jessie what most of his tattoos meant. Especially the angel wings with Fly to the Angels winding through them in a fancy script. The couple of times she had asked, Jack had just ignored her and changed the subject.
Jack got a tube for them. He held it as Jessie climbed into it. Then he deposited Kennedy into her lap and pushed them around the lazy river.
When they came to the tunnel where there were waterfalls on each side, Kennedy cried out excitedly, “Push us into the water, Daddy!”
Jack laughed and pushed the tube in the direction of the huge waterfall. Jessie grabbed her sunglasses so they wouldn’t come off and held her breath as they passed under the flood of water.
They were both laughing as they came out the other side, where Jack was waiting for them, pulling the tube out of the water.
“Did you like that?” he asked Kennedy, the big smile on her face clearly letting him know that she did.
He glanced up at Jessie and without thinking reached his hand out to wipe a droplet of water away from her forehead before it dripped down in her eyes.
She put her own hand up to block his touch, wiping the water away before he could touch her.
“Sorry,” he pulled his hand back.
“It’s okay,” Jessie replied awkwardly. “I got it, thanks.”
A moment of silence felt uncomfortable until Jack spoke. “Who wants a popsicle?”
“I do!” Kennedy called out, climbing out of the tube and into Jack’s strong arms.
“GOODNIGHT, BABY GIRL.” JESSIE CLOSED the storybook and leaned down to kiss her forehead.
After getting back from the waterpark they’d had dinner together and then spent the evening watching television.
It had been quite a while since Jessie had spent this much time with them, but Scott was out of town for a work conference, and she didn’t have anything else to do.
Kennedy had started to drift off to sleep on the couch snuggling with Jessie, but had still insisted that she put her to bed with a story.
Jessie climbed down the ladder from Kennedy’s princess bed and turned the lights out, making sure the night light was lit before heading downstairs.
Jack was sitting on the couch, a tumbler of whiskey in front of him, and a baseball game on the television.
“Hey.” He glanced at her, his eyes trailing over her tank top, short cutoffs, and flip flops.
“She’s asleep,” Jessie said, walking past him to grab her purse from the couch. “I’m going to take off.”
She felt his hand press against her hip as she maneuvered past him. Then his other hand clasped hers, his fingers loosely gripping her own.
“Wait, don’t go yet,” Jack said, his voice rough. “Stay awhile.”
“No, I better go,” she resisted, though she wanted more than anything to stay and spend time with him. She missed him so much.
His voice was low. “Let’s hang out for a while. Just you and me. It hasn’t been just you and me in so long.”
He didn’t know what the fuck he was doing. She just looked so goddamn beautiful today, he’d been thinking about her just about every second.
“Okay, I guess I can hang out for a little while.”
“How are things going? With Scott? He been treating you okay?” Jack asked, looking into her pretty blue eyes.
Jessie nodded. “Yeah, he’s been great. Why?”
“Just checking. You know, after that night when he said all that stuff…”
“He was upset, Jack. He apologized. I forgave him. No one is perfect. He hasn’t acted like that since.”
“Okay, just making sure. I worry about you.”
“You don’t have to worry about me, Jack. Everything is great. How have you been?”
“Good, I guess. I miss you, though. Wish we could hang out more.”
He cringed as he heard himself. Could he sound like any more of a pussy?
“I miss you, too, Jack. But it doesn’t seem right for us to spend time alone together. If Scott knew about us he wouldn’t like it.”
“You never told him that we slept together?”
Jessie shook her head, her cheeks turning pink. “You said you wouldn’t bring that up, Jack.”
“I know. I’m sorry. I just got the feeling he knew when I saw him at Chris and Zoey’s wedding.”
“No. If he asks I won’t lie but I didn’t offer the information. I don’t see the point.”
Jack nodded.
“Can’t believe your wedding is in just a couple of months.”
“I know, there’s been so much to get done, so quickly. Thank God for Zoey and my mom. You’re coming to the wedding, right?”
“Yeah, I’ll be there.”
“Promise?”
Jack nodded. “Yeah, but what’s the rush?”
Jessie shrugged. “Why wait? Scott and I have known each other since college. I’m ready to start my life, Jack. I want to have a family in a couple of years, want to get settled.”
“Yeah, I get that. Still, getting married… it’s a big thing. I think you should take some more time to think about it.”
“Think about what?” Jessie asked, irritation spiking through her.
“Whether or not Scott is the right one. I mean, seriously Jessie, you’ve dated but you haven’t had any other serious relationships. How do you know he’s the one you want to spend your life with?”
“Seriously, Jack? You’re going to sit there and try to give me relationship advice? That’s hysterical, honestly.” Jessie stood up.
“Oh come on, Jessie, don’t get pissed off. I’m just trying to look out for you.”
“Really? Suddenly you want to look out for me?”
Jack shook his head in frustration. “All I know is that the guy said some really fucked up things to you. Maybe he was just having a bad day, and maybe he’s really a piece of shit who will treat you like garbage. All I’m saying is you shouldn’t rush into this wedding. Be engaged for a while and then see how things go.”
“You’ve said some really fucked up things to me, too, Jack. I forgave you. Why should Scott deserve any less? He isn’t the one who decided he didn’t want to be with me because he couldn’t stand the thought of being tied down to one woman. Scott only wants to be with me, Jack. He doesn’t need anyone else.”
“Yeah, he’s a real catch, Jessie. You told me yourself that the guy can’t even get you off…”
“I can’t believe you’re bringing that up! That’s none of your business, Jack. I’m not going to talk to you about this.”
“I’m sorry but goddammit,
Jessie, I don’t think you’re going to be happy with him. I just don’t,” Jack said, raking his hand through his hair.
“Why are you trying to ruin this for me?”
“I’m not, Jessie, I just care about you and…”
“You can be a selfish asshole, you know that?” Jessie fumed as she made her way to the door.
Jack didn’t follow her. He sat where he was and listened to the door shut behind her.
She was right. He was selfish. And an asshole.
The sooner she married Scott and moved on with her life, the better.
Chapter Twenty-Five
JESSIE GLANCED AT JACK ACROSS the campsite, watching him chat with some brunette. With her big boobs and long legs, there was no doubt she was Jack’s type.
She shouldn’t even care. But she did. She hated that she still cared.
“Getting hungry, honey?” Scott asked, putting an arm around her and leaning down to kiss her cheek.
Jessie smiled and nodded. “Yeah, I’m starved. Zoey and I put everything out on the picnic table. Just waiting for Chris to be done on the grill.”
“He said the burgers and hot dogs are ready.”
“Awesome. Let’s go eat then.” Jessie glanced one more time at Jack before following Scott to where the food was waiting.
The dark-haired hottie had moved even closer to him. She was leaning up and whispering something to him that was making him smirk. Jessie ignored the little stab in her heart and forced herself to look away.
Chris was having a great time, in his element as they celebrated his birthday with the annual camping and tubing trip. After fixing a plate for Scott, Jessie held out her own plate and Chris scooped a cheeseburger onto her bun and then a hot dog.
She took a seat in the chair next to Scott and started eating.
Jack stopped next to her on his way to the table to get food.
“Did you make potato salad?” Jack looked down at her, his eyes scanning her plate.
Jessie nodded. “Of course.”
Did you make potato salad?
She hadn’t seen him in two weeks, and that’s all he had to say to her?
Jessie’s thoughts were bitter, although she was sweetness personified to the casual observer.
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